City of Rushville City Council met June 5.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
1. ROLL CALL & CALL TO ORDER
The Rushville City Council met in the meeting room of the City Hall Building. Upon convening, Mayor Jeff Ervin directed City Clerk, Stacey Briney to call the roll. Upon ROLL CALL, the following answered present: Council Members: Susan Acker, Richard Davis, Terry Dodds, Bob Fishel, Bryan Matteson, Barry Rebman, Mike Ryan, and Paul Trimble. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M.
Others present included: Stacey Briney, City Clerk; Erin Wilson-Laegeler, City Attorney, Eric Thurman, Superintendent of Operations; Rick Wright, Chief of Police; David Haney of The Rushville Times; Tim Bright, representing Rushville Little League; Chet Esther, County Board Chairman; Chuck Laegeler, States Attorney; Kala Peacock, representing Rushville Chamber of Commerce; Schuyler Isley, Economic Development Director (arrived at 7:02 p.m.; Jimmy Moore and Deanna Zeisler.
2. OPENING PRAYER
The Opening Prayer was led by Mayor Jeff Ervin.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Ervin.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Tim Bright, representing the Rushville Little League (RLL) introduced himself and thanked the city council for the donation to purchase new scoreboards.
Bright reported that a few years back, RLL asked to use the area where the old pool was for a new ballfield. Bright stated that RLL found out last week after turning in a bid that the anonymous donor was going to cover the cost of a new turf field. Bright said RLL needed the council’s approval to do this. Bright noted they will have to provide 240V power which the electricity is run from the pavilion in the park so it will have to be trenched to the new field. Jimmy Moore of Ameren stated they will change the meter to the pavilion and dig from the pole behind the bathroom across the road. Moore stressed this will all be underground. Consensus of the council was to go ahead and move forward with whatever needs to be done.
Tim Bright and Jimmy Moore left the meeting at 7:04 p.m.
Kala Peacock, representing Rushville Chamber of Commerce reported they hold the Farmers Market on the third (3rd) Saturday of each month. Peacock stated they would like to invite food trucks in this month since it will be right before Father’s Day and she just wanted the council’s permission to do this. Consensus of the council was to allow the Chamber of Commerce to invite food trucks for the third (3rd) Saturday Farmers Market.
Kala Peacock left the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
All items on the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine in nature and will be enacted in one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council Member so requests, in which event, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered as the first item after approval of the Consent Agenda.
a) Approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held May 15, 2023
b) Approve the Minutes of the “Special” Meeting held May 11, 2023
c) Approve the Minutes of the Grievance & Personnel Committee Meeting held May 5, 2023; Police Committee Meeting held May 10, 2023; Sewer Committee meetings held May 11, 2023, & May 18, 2023; & Economic Development Committee Meeting held May 18, 2023
d) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 06/05/23” & Accept Monthly Reports
e) Consider Reserving Central Park on Sunday, June 18, 2023, & Sunday, July 16, 2023, for Community Band
f) Consider Reserving Central Park on Sunday, September 3, 2023, for African Day
g) Consider Reserving Central Park on Saturday, September 30, 2023, for a Wedding
RUSHVILLE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, CONT. June 5, 2023
h) Consider Closing the Alley between West Washington Street & West LaFayette Street on Saturday, June 17, 2023, for an Auction
i) Approve Pay Raise for Library Employee
j) Approve Outside Employment for Police Officer, Ted Eifert
k) Approve Hiring Xander Allen & Ray Howard as Part-Time City Maintenance Employees
l) Approve Re-Hiring Mark Clark as Part-Time Police Officer
m) Approve Hiring Carol Flowers for Pro Shop
n) Pass & Adopt Ordinance No. 1361, Salary Ordinance
o) Consider 1st Reading of Ordinance No. 1362, Prevailing Wage Ordinance
p) Pass & Adopt Resolution No. 1143, Smiles Day Resolution
Rebman MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, & Trimble; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.
6. ITEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA – IF APPLICABLE All items were approved on the Consent Agenda.
7. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING TO CO-SPONSOR GRANT FOR FRIENDS OF THE TRAIL
County Board Chairman, Chet Esther reported their board approved to send in an application for a grant on behalf of Friends of the Trail. Esther noted this grant is a very competitive grant as it covers communities all over. Esther said the grant states that the applicant gets more points if it is combined with another entity. Esther stated there are a lot of things in this grant that involve the city and he would like for the city to have some say on the projects. Council Member, Bryan Matteson stated he would like to clarify what Scott Butler said that there is no harm in applying because you do not know if you could get the approval if you do not apply. Esther stressed that if the grant is approved and the funds are not available, the city and county can back out of it at that time.
Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE CO-SPONSORING A GRANT FOR FRIENDS OF THE TRAIL WITH THE SCHUYLER COUNTY BOARD. Ryan SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, Trimble, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.
8. DISCUSS & CONSIDER SEWER HOOK-UP AT RESIDENCE ON PENNY LANE/SOUTH MONROE STREET
Deanna Zeisler reported that she is not trying to ruffle any feathers, but she is just trying to save some money while getting a trailer set. Zeisler stated she talked to a couple plumbers and one of them said that she could save a lot of money by hooking the new trailer’s sewer into her sewer at her house. Zeisler said the new trailer is not very away from her house right now.
Sewer Committee Chairman, Paul Trimble reported the committee had met on this to discuss this situation and he just does not think this would be a good idea to hook two (2) sewers together. City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler noted the city ordinance states that a permit is required and a separate hook-up for each building that sits behind another where a sewer cannot get to is the only way you can hook two (2) sewers together. Trimble wondered about having the city go down and try to wire the sewer, and Superintendent of Operations, Eric Thurman said the city crew did that today but they did not have any luck and will try tomorrow. Zeisler noted the new trailer is only about twenty-two feet (22’) away from her house now. Mayor Ervin stated that the council will have to look to see if Zeisler’s trailer would fall under this exception that Attorney Wilson-Laegeler read. A discussion followed. Zeisler noted she is trying to get everything organized and get a timeline. Mayor Ervin reminded Zeisler that the council will meet again in two (2) weeks. No action was taken at this time and this item will be placed on the next council agenda.
Deanna Zeisler left the meeting at 7:14 p.m.
9. PASS & ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 1144, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF THE NORTHWEST WATER ASSOCIATION WATER LINE
Mayor Ervin noted this is something the city has been working on when he was Water Committee Chairman. Mayor Ervin reported Northwest Water Association wants to dissolve their association. Mayor Ervin said the city sells them water anyway so we would just take over their lines. Mayor Ervin noted there are about twenty-three (23) or twenty-four (24) customers.
Trimble MOVED TO PASS & ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 1144, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF THE NORTHWEST WATER ASSOCIATION WATER LINE. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, & Davis; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.
10. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING RED GRANT FOR ROCKET CAFÉ
Economic Development Committee Chair, Susan Acker reported the committee met to review the application from the Rocket Café. Acker stated Council Member, Mike Ryan is going to be doing the repairs so he can enlighten the council on what work will be done. Ryan noted the apartment upstairs is pretty run down and needs a rehaul, walls, ceilings, floors, and the staircase will all be repaired. Ryan said the other building has some problems that will be fixed as well.
Acker stated the total bid was Ten Thousand One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($10,150), with Four Thousand Four Hundred Fifty Dollars ($4,450) for materials and Five Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($5,700) in labor. Acker noted the committee felt the council should approve Four Thousand Four Hundred Fifty Dollars ($4,450) for the materials so there was not a conflict.
Acker MOVED TO APPROVE A RED GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF FOUR THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($4,450) TO THE ROCKET CAFÉ. Davis SECONDED, THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, & Dodds; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.
11. DISCUSS & CONSIDER ADVERTISING FOR BIDS FOR A NEW BUILDING AT THE CEMETERY
Cemetery Committee Chairman, Bryan Matteson reported he had met with Cemetery Sexton, George Vincent to discuss the needs out there and he thinks they came up with a plan. Matteson stated they would like to build a 32x48 pole building with nine-foot (9’) walls, three (3) garage doors, and one (1) walk-in door. Matteson noted the first stall would be insulated and heated, electric and LED lighting throughout the building. Matteson said the new building would be just north of the exiting building. Matteson stated they talked about moving the grave digger down to the cemetery but agreed that we would just leave it where it is for now.
Matteson MOVED TO APPROVE ADVERTISING FOR BIDS FOR A NEW BUILDING AT THE CEMETERY. Davis SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, Dodds, & Fishel; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.
12. DISCUSS & CONSIDER ADVERTISING FOR BIDS FOR A NEW ROAD FOR THE SUNSET ADDITION AT THE CEMETERY
Matteson stressed this road has been a long time coming. Matteson reported he would like to put an access from South Liberty Street to the Sunset Addition with one (1) entrance that would loop around. Matteson said the loop would be approximately seven hundred fifty feet (750’), twelve feet (12’) wide with eight inches (8”) of the top layers removed and put down gravel for now. Matteson noted Vincent would like to keep the dirt in case we ever fill in that holler.
Matteson MOVED TO APPROVE ADVERTISING FOR BIDS FOR A NEW ROAD FOR THE SUNSET ADDITION AT THE CEMETERY. Rebman SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Rebman, Ryan, Acker, Davis, Dodds, & Matteson; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT; 1 ABSTAIN – Fishel.
13. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVE PARTIAL PAY ESTIMATE #1 TO HOOD CONSTRUCTION FOR SILVERLEAF/HAMILTON WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT & WILSON STREET SEWER REPLACEMENT
Mayor Ervin reported Hood Construction is pretty much done with these projects. Mayor Ervin stated Hood’s will probably let the gravel set all summer and come in late summer or early fall and asphalt the streets. Mayor Ervin noted the pay estimate is for One Hundred Seventy-Seven Thousand Two Hundred Fifty-Seven Dollars and Eighty-Eight Cents ($177,257.88), which leaves a balance of Forty-Two Thousand Three Hundred Twenty-Three Dollars and Ninety-Two Cents ($42,323.92). Mayor Ervin reminded the council that this project was being paid with ARPA Funds. Thurman said they are trying to keep the gravel watered down but it is hard to keep two (2) people there, so if Hood’s waits that long to do something, the city might have to get something else to settle it down.
RUSHVILLE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, CONT. June 5, 2023
Trimble MOVED TO APPROVE PARTIAL PAY ESTIMATE #1 TO HOOD CONSTRUCTION FOR THE SILVERLEAF/HAMILTON WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT AND WILSON STREET SEWER REPLACEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-SEVEN DOLLARS AND EIGHTY EIGHT CENTS ($177,257.88). Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, & Rebman; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.
14. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIAL’S REPORTS
Cemetery Committee Chairman, Bryan Matteson reported there is an old well on the property of the new Sunset Addition that he is very concerned about so he had Vincent cover it up for now. Matteson stated he called the Illinois Department of Public Health on Friday but he has not heard back from them yet so he will try to get ahold of our local health department to see what we have to do to abandon the well correctly.
Parks & Recreation Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds reported the swimming pool is supposed to open on Friday. Dodds apologized to the residents for the delay in opening.
City Attorney, Erin Wilson Laegeler reported the Gordley property on East LaFayette Street is becoming dangerous and beyond a nuisance. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler said she is not sure if the council is wanting to pursue taking this property over. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler stated that it is better to proceed under the statute. Mayor Ervin directed Attorney Wilson-Laegeler to pursue this any way she can.
Attorney Wilson-Laegeler also reported there are some young folks playing softball at Schuy Rush Park again so she has put together liability waivers for them.
15. ADJOURN
Dodds MOVED TO ADJOURN. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Trimble, Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, & Ryan; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:33 P.M.
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